Air conditioning system and ventilator therefor



1964 1.1.. DILLINGHAM ETAL 3,158,082

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND VENTILATOR THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 10, 1961 FIG- FIG. 5

INVENTORS THEODORE L. DILLINGHAM JOHN R. RINEHART avana/PM ATTORNEYS FIG.

Nov. 24, 1964 T. L. DILLINGHAM ETAI.

3,158,082 AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND VENTILATOR THEREFOR Filed May 10. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.

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FIG.

INVE NTORS THEODORE L. DILLINGHAM JOHN R- RINEHART MM M1 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,158,082 Patented Nov. 24, 1964 ,1583 Am CGNDITIQNENG SYSTEM VENTELATOR THEREFfiR Theodore L Diliingharn, 10198 Royal Drive St, and John R. Rinehart, 16141 Royal Drive St., both of St. Louis, M

Filed May 10, 196i, Ser. No. 162951 7Clairns. (Cl. 98-33) This invention relates generally to improvements in air conditioning, and more particularly to improvements in an air conditioning system and a ventilator utilized in such system.

In the heretofore conventional and known heating and/or cooling systems adapted to condition the air in an enclosure such as a house or other building, and Which utilize an air distributing unit. either of forced air or gravity type, the same air in the enclosure was constantly recirculated. The only way to bring in fresh air from outside the enclosure was to. open a door or a window, but such fresh air being usually of a considerably different temperature from the existing conditioned air upset the desired temperature balance. Moreover, the efiects of such fresh air was localized to the immediate region of the enclosure opening.

It is an important objective of the present invention to provide a system that will: automatically bring in fresh air from the exterior of the enclosure, immediately condition such fresh air along with the existing recirculated air in the enclosure, and then distribute the conditioned fresh air along with the reconditioned existing air to the various parts of the enclosure, all Without disturbing the temperature balance.

An important object is realized by the provision of a ventilator in an air conditioning system that operates during both cooling or heating cycles, i.e., adapts the system to bring in fresh air during the winter period while heating the enclosure and also during the summer period while cooling.

Another important object is achieved by the structural arrangement of the ventilator which enables it to function as a heat exchanger during operation, the ventilator during the winter acting to warm fresh air brought in from the outside by a flow of hot air directed by the airdistrib'uting unit through the ventilator to the outside, and during the summer acting to cool the fresh air brought in from the outside by a flow of cold air directed by the air-distributing unit through the ventilator to the outside. Because of this temperature exchange in the ventilator between the outgoing and incoming flows of air, there is very little, if any, loss in efiiciency in air conditioning the enclosure.

Yet another important object is afforded by placing the outlet of one passage in the ventilator and the inlet of another passage in communication with the atmosphere externally of the enclosure, and connecting the inlet of the one passage and the outlet of the other passage respectively to the feeder and return ducts of the air-distributing unit. The conditioned air flows from the feeder duct through the one passage and discharges to the outside atmosphere, While the fresh air is induced into the other passage from the outdoors and flows directly to the air-distributing unit through the air return duct, where such fresh air is conditioned and distributed to all parts of the enclosure.

Still another important objective is achieved by the provision of a valve means in each of the flow. passages which operates normally to close such passage, vet operates automatically to open in one direction only upon inducement of air flow from inlet to outlet by the airdistributing unit. The valve means precludes the introduction of outdoor air into the system exceptwhen the system is effectively operating to condition such air.

Other important: objectives are realized by the particular mounting and; location of a pair of flap valves constituting the above mentioned valve means, the flap valves insuring efficient discharge to and intake from. the outdoor atmosphere, and cooperating with screens placed in the ventilator to prevent entry of any foreign objects into the system.

Another important object is achieved by providing a ventilator that can be readily mounted between structural joists and in the, enclosure wall so that a head portion is located outdoors while the major lengthof the ventilator is located, within the; enclosure.

An important objective is to provide a simplified air conditioning system having an air-distributing unit with air return and feeder ducts, and means constituting an outgoing flow line and an incoming flow line that directly communicates the outdoor atmosphere respectively with the feeder and return ducts. Other advantages are afforded by providing valve means in the flow lines which enables air flowtherein only upon operation of the airdistributing unit, and; by disposing the flow line in heatexchang-ing relation; so as to obtain increased efficiency in the system.

An important object is to provide an air conditioning system and ventilator of simple and durable construction, which is highly efiicient in operation, inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and which is fully automatic in oper i n.-

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description: of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

PEG. l is a top-plan diagrammatic 'view of the system;

FIG. 2 is a top-plan view of the ventilator, partially cut away o how ts nter or;

FIG. 3, is an end elevational view as seen from the h of IG-- 2;,

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view as seen from the left of FI 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 5- Di P -v FIG. 6 is a cross sect-ional view as seen along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

7 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 77 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectionalview as seen along line 8- f EIG- Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1;, it is seen that the air-condition ing sy em, wh ch. may b eit e a t r h at n y tem or a cold air cooling system, includes an. air-distributing unit l0 either of forced air or gravity type. This air-distributing unit 10. would consist of a furnace in a hot air heating system and could consist of an evaporator unit in a cold aircooling system. For the purpose of providing a disclosure of the invention, the parts will be described by making reference to a hot air heating system utilizing a furnace 10, but it will be clearly understood that the invention applies to a cold air cooling system as well and the operation of such cooling system will be later explained.

The furnace 10 includes a feeder duct 11 to which is connected a plurality of leaders 12 through which hot air is directed to various parts of the enclosure, such as the various rooms of a house. The furnace 10 also in cludes an air return duct 13; into which the cold air from the various rooms of the house are fed for re-heating by the furnace 10 by any suitable ducts or the like, not shown.

A ventilator 14 is mounted in the enclosure wall 15 so as to communicate with the outdoor atmosphere and is operatively interconnected to the feeder duct 11 and the return duct 13, all in a manner as will become apparent upon later description of parts.

The ventilator 14 includes a tubular body 16 that tapers forwardly as is best seen in FIG. 2. The body 16 includes forwardly convergent side walls 17 and 18 interconnected by a top wall 21 and a bottom wall 21. Disposed within the tubular body 16 is a partition referred toat 22 that divides the body into separate yet adjacent passages 23 and 24. As will later appear, the passage 23 is adapted to direct the flow of outgoing air while the passage 24 is adapted to direct the flow of incoming air. When applied to a hot air heating system, the passages will be referred to as a hot air passage 23 and a fresh air passage 24.

The partition 22 includes a longitudinal vertical wall portion 25 that extends forwardly from a medial portion of the rear end of body 16, and includes also a diagonally inclined wall portion 26 that extends from the front end of wall portion 25 to one corner of the front end of body 16 at side wall 16, the vertical wall portion 26 being of a height substantially one half the distance between the top and bottom of walls 20 and 21. Furthermore, the partition 22 includes a horizontal wall portion 27 that extends from the inclined vertical wall portion 26 to the opposite side wall 18. Another vertical wall portion 23 extends upwardly from the rear end of horizontal wall portion 27 to the top body wall 26, the wall portion 28 extending transversely between side body wall 18 and the front end of the intermediate vertical wall portion 25. This partition construction provides a maximum amount of area between the flow passages 23 and 24 so as to afford the optimum efficiency in the heat exchange relationship between such passages.

The rear end of body 16 is provided with a pair of circular fittings 30 and 31 that communicate with the in terior of the tubular body 16. More particularly, the pipe fitting 30 constitutes an inlet to body 16 from the hot air passage 23 while the pipe fittting 31 constitutes an outlet from body 16 to the freshair passage 24.

As is best seen in FIG. 5, the horizontal partition wall portion 27 divides the front end of the body into a port 32 in hot air passage 23 and a subjacent port 33 in the fresh air passage 24.

The How through the hot air passage 23 is through the inlet 30 into that side of the body 16 between wall portions 25 and 26 and side wall 17, up over the partition wall portion 26 and along the top side of horizontal wall portion 27, and thence through the port 32. The flow through the fresh air'passage 24 is through the inlet port 33, rearwardly below the horizontal partition wall portion 27 between the vertical wall portion 26 and side wall 18, into the space between the wall portion 25 and side wall 18, the thence through the outlet 31.

The body 16 includes a head generally indicated at 34. The head 34 includes a bracket 35 attached to the top wall 2% and the bottom wall 21 of body 16. A pair of screens 36 and 37 are carried by the head 34 between the brackets 35 and serve to cover the port 32 of the hot air passage 23 and the port 33 of the fresh air passage 24. The head further includes a top wall 40 that extends downwardly and forwardly from the uppermost bracket 35, and a bottom wall 41 that extends upwardly and forwardly from the lowermost bracket 35 to the lower end of the top wall 40. These top and bottom walls 44) and 41 bridge enclosing side walls 42 best shown in FIG. 6. An inner partition 43 divides the interior of head 34 into separate upper and lowerco-mpartments, the partition 43 extending upwardly from the apex formed by angularly related top and bottom Walls 40 and 41 to the region between the ports 32 and 33.

Valve means are provided in each of the passages 23 and 24 to regulate the flow from inlet to outlet. Specifically, the valve means includes a flap valve 44 hingedp we P s 3 z-r SIIBM'QPES 11 mm PQIUROW t adapted normally to close the port 32 in the hot air passage 23. Upon movement of air fiow through the hot air passage 23 from inlet 3%, the air flow forces the flap valve 44 open in order to flow through the port 32 and into the outdoor atmosphere through louvers constituting an outlet 45 formed in the top head wall 41). When air flow through the hot air passage 23 is stopped, the flap valve 44 will automatically close the port 32 and preclude the entrance of outdoor air into the hot air passage 23.

A similar type of flap valve 46 is hingedly mounted between the side walls 42 of the body head 34 below portition 43 and is adapted normally to close inlet 47 (FIG. 5) formed in the bottom head wall 41. Upon inducement of-air flow through the fresh air passage 24, the air will swing the valve 46 upwardly into an open position to permit the entrance of air through the inlet 47 of the fresh air passage 24. Automatically upon halting the inducemerit of air how in the fresh air passage 24, the flap valve 46 will fall shut by gravity and will preclude the escape of any air from the system into the outdoor atmosphere.

It will be apparent that the fiap valves 44 and 46 permit the movement of air flow respectively in the passages 23 and 24 only in One direction from the inlet to the outlet, and only when air flow is induced in each passage upon operation of the furnace as will be later described.

From FIG. 1, it is seen that the inlet 30 to the hot air passage 23 in the ventilator 14 is connected by a duct 50 to the feeder duct 11. Upon operation of the furnace 10, hot air is forced from the feeder duct 11 through the leader duct 51 and into the ventilator 14. Another leader duct 51 connects the outlet 31 from the fresh air passage 24 of the ventilator 14 to the cold air return 13 of the furnace 10. Thus it is seen that fresh air brought in by the ventilator 14 is directed to the cold air return duct 13 and is then immediately conditioned by the furnace 10 for distribution through the feeder duct 11.

In order to control more accurately the flow of air through the leader ducts 50 and 51 interconnecting the ventilator 14- respectively with the feeder duct 11 and return duct 13, a damper 52 can be located within each of the leader ducts 50 and 51 immediately behind the ventilator 14. It is desirable to control the flow of air into and out of the ventilator 14 in order to provide an optimum heat exchange of the air in the passages 23 and 24 whereby to minimize to the greatest extent possible any heat lost in the system, and thereby obtain optimum efliciency.

It is thought that the operational and functional advantages of the air conditioning system and the ventilator have become fully apparent from the foregoing detailed description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, the operation of the system and ventilator will be briefly described with reference to a hot air heating system and to a cold air cooling system.

It will be assumed that the ventilator body 16 is mounted in the enclosure wall 15 so that one body end is in communication with the outdoor atmosphere while the major length of such body is located within the enclosure. Furthermore, it will be assumed first that the ventilator 14 is connected to a hot air feeder duct 11 of a furnace 10 by leader duct 50 and connected to the cold air return duct 13 by leader duct 51.

Upon operation of the furnace 10, heated air is distributed through feeder duct 11 and by leaders 12 to various parts of the enclosure. At the same time, a portion of the partially used hot air is fed through leader duct 50 into the inlet 30 of the hot air passage 23 of ventilator 14. This partially used hot air flows through the passage 23 in the manner previously described and swings the flap valve 44 open so that the partially used hot air is discharged to the outdoor atmosphere through the out let 45.

Simultaneously, air flow is induced in the cold air return 13 of the furnace 10 to bring the used cold air through any suitable duct means, not shown, from varia oiis parts of the enclosure back to the furnace to be reconditioned and then redistributed. This inducement of air flow toward the cold air return 13 induces air flow also from inlet "to outlet through the fresh air passage 24 which is connected to the cold air return duct 13 by leader duct 51. The incoming fresh air from the outdoors swings the flap'valve 46 upwardly into an open position, and air flow through the inlet 47 into the fresh air passage 24. This fresh air is preheated by the hot air in the adjacent passage 23 by reason of the thermal exchange existing between the passages 23 and 24 through partition 22. This preheated fresh air then flows through the outlet 31 into the leader duct 51 and is directed into the cold air return 13 where it is immediately conditioned or heated by furnace 10 for distribution to various parts of the enclosure.

When the furnace 10 is inoperative, or in other words is not effectively distributing air within the enclosure, hot air flowfrom the feeder duct 11 through leader duct 50 and heated fresh air flow to cold air return duct 13 through leader duct 51, is halted. Immediately upon cessation of air flow in the ventilator 14, the flap valves 44 and 46 fall shut under gravity to close the air flow passages 23 and '24.

As stated previously, this hot air heating system including ventilator 14 Will operate if the furnace 10 is of the forced air blower type or of a gravity type.

In addition, the invention applies equally well to a cold air cooling system for summer months. Under these circumstances, the air-distributing unit is designated a cooling unit 10. Upon operation of the cooling unit 10, the cold air is distributed through feeder duct to various parts of the enclosure by leaders 12. At the same time, a portion of the partially used cold air is fed through leader duct 50 into the outgoing air passage 23 of ventilator 14 and is discharged to the outdoor atmosphere all in the manner previously described above with respect to the hot air heating system. Also, fresh outdoor air is brought into the fresh air passage 24 and is fed by leader duct 51 directly to the return duct 13 of the cooling unit 10, where it is immediately mixed with the partially used air and reconditioned or cooled for distribution within the enclosure. While the fresh outdoor air flows through the passage 24 in ventilator 14, such air is precooled by the cold air flowing through the adjacent passage 23 so that precooled fresh air is delivered to the cooling unit 10.

. When the cooling unit 10 is inoperative, or in other words no longer operates to deliver cold air within the enclosure, flow of air in each of the ventilator passages 23 and 24 ceases, and thereby causes the flap valves 44 and 4s to fall shut automatically.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereinto appended.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an air conditioning system, an enclosure, an air distributing unit including an air return, an air feeder for recirculating a portion of the conditioned air to said enclosure and means for conditioning the air between the air return and the air feeder, a duct bypassing said enclosure and communicating the feeder with the atmosphere outside of said enclosure to provide an outgoing flow line for a portion of the conditioned air, a second duct bypassing said enclosure and communicating the said return with the atmosphere outside of said enclosure to provide an incoming flow line for fresh air.

2. In an air conditioning system, an enclosure, an air distributing unit for circulating the conditioned air within said enclosure, said unit including an air return for receiving conditioned air from said enclosure and an air feeder for recirculating a portion of the air to said enclosure, means conditioning the air between the air return and air feeder, a ventilator comprising a body hav'- ing separate passages therethrough, a duct bypassing said enclosure and connecting one of said passages to the air feeder, a second duct bypassing said enclosure and connecting the other passage to the air return, and means connecting each of said passages with the atmosphere outside of the enclosure, whereby said onepassage discharges a portion of the conditioned air directly from said feeder to the atmosphere and said other passage delivers fresh outside air directly to said air return.

3. In an air cooling system, an enclosure, an air cooling unit including an air return duct, a cold air feeder duct and means between the return duct and the feeder duct for cooling the air, said feeder duct including means for distributing a portion of the cooled air from said means to said enclosure, a ventilator comprising a tubular body, a partition in said body providing separate but adjacent cold air and fresh air passages, said body having one end located inside said enclosure and having the other end located outside said enclosure, said inside body end being provide with an inlet to said cold air passage and an outlet from said fresh air passage, duct means bypassing said enclosure and connecting the inlet to said cold air passage to the cold air feeder duct, duct means bypassing said enclosure and connecting the outlet of the fresh air passage to the return duct, said outside body end being provided with an outlet from said cold air passage to deliver a portion of the cold and partially used air to the outside atmosphere and an inlet to said fresh air passage communicating with the atmosphere outside of said enclosure to deliver outside fresh air to the return duct, and an oppositely opening one way valve means in each of said passages, said valve means opening automatically to permit inflow and outflow of fresh and cooled air respectively in said passages upon inducement of fresh and cooled air flow in opposite directions in said passages.

4. A ventilator for an air conditioning system comprising an elongate tubular body, a partition in said body providing separate but adjacent passages therethrough, each passage having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of one passage and the outlet of the other passage being located adjacent to each other at one end of the body and vice versa, said passages being in heat exchange relation through said partition, two one-way flap valves, one flap valve being hingedly mounted across said outlet for one of said passages so as to prevent inflow of air therethrough, the other of said flap valves being hingedly mounted on said body across said adjacent inlet of said other passage so as to prevent outflow of air therethrough, and said flap valves opening automatically upon inducement of outflow of air in said one passage and inflow of air through said other passage.

5. In a hot air heating system, an enclosure, a furnace for circulating warm air within said enclosure including a cold air return duct, a hot air feeder duct and means heating the air between the return duct and feeder duct, a ventilator comprising a tubular body, a partition in said body providing separate yet adjacent hot air and fresh air passages, said body having one end located inside of said enclosure and having the other end located outside of said enclosure, said inside body end being provided with an inlet to said hot air passage and an outlet from said fresh air passage, duct means connecting the inlet to said hot air passage to the hot air feeder duct, duct means connecting the outlet of said fresh air passage to the cold air return duct, said outside body end being provided With an outlet from said hot air passage to de liver hot air to the atmosphere and an inlet to said fresh air passage communicating with the atmosphere outside of said enclosure to deliver outside fresh air to the return duct, and valve means in said passages opening automatically in one direction upon inducement of air flow in each passage from inlet to outlet.

6. A ventilator for an air conditioning system comprising an elongate tubular body, a partition in said body providing separate yet adjacent passages, each passage having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of one passage and the outlet of the other passage being located at one end of the body and being located in side by side relation, the outlet of said one passage and the inlet of the said other passage being located at the other end of the body and being located with such outlet above such inlet, and a flap valve hingedly mounted to the body at the inlet and at the outlet at-the said other end of the body, said flap valves normally closing said passages yet swinging open automatically upon inducement of air flow in each passage from inlet to outlet.

7. A ventilator for an air conditioning system comprising an elongate tubular body, a partition in said body providing separate yet adjacent passages, each passage having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet to one passage and the outlet from the other passage being located at one end of the body, the outlet from said one passage and the inlet to said other passage being located at the other end of the body, said passages being in heat exchange relation through said partition, a head portion attached to said other end of the body including'a downwardly and outwardly extending wall and an inwardly and downwardly extending wall, said wallsbeing angularly related to form an apex, a flap valve hingedly mounted to said head portion at the top of said outwardly and downwardly extending wall and normally closing the outlet from said one passage each of said angularly related walls being provided with an opening, another partition extending from the said other body end to the apex of said walls to separate the inlet and outlet at the body end covered by said head portion, another flap valve hingedly mounted to the head portion at the apex of said walls and normally closing the opening in the inwardly and downwardly extending wall, said flap valves opening automatically upon inducement of air flow in each passage from inlet to outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,600,522 Strehlke Sept. 21, 1926 1,921,900 Wood Aug. 8, 1933 2,004,927 Bulkeley June 18, 1935 2,019,351 Lathrop Oct. 29, 1935 2,091,019 Smith Aug. 24, 1937 2,212,050 Samuelson Aug. 20, 1940 2,324,313 Meyerhans July 13, 1943 2,548,607 Jenn Apr. 10, 1951 

1. IN AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, AN ENCLOSURE, AN AIR DISTRIBUTING UNIT INCLUDING AN AIR RETURN, AN AIR FEEDER FOR RECIRCULATING A PORTION OF THE CONDITIONED AIR TO SAID ENCLOSURE AND MEANS FOR CONDITIONING THE AIR BETWEEN THE AIR RETURN AND THE AIR FEEDER, A DUCT BYPASSING SAID ENCLOSURE AND COMMUNICATING THE FEEDER WITH THE ATMOSPHERE OUTSIDE OF SAID ENCLOSURE TO PROVIDE AN OUTGOING FLOW LINE FOR A PORTION OF THE CONDITIONED AIR, A SECOND DUCT BYPASSING SAID ENCLOSURE AND COMMUNICATING THE SAID RETURN WITH THE ATMOSPHERE OUTSIDE OF SAID ENCLOSURE TO PROVIDE AN INCOMING FLOW LINE FOR FRESH AIR. 